Soft armor

ABSTRACT

Soft armor is disclosed. The soft armor comprises an armor structure having a threat side and an inner side inward of the threat side. The armor structure is formed from soft armor material, and the armor structure is substantially imperforable by rifle fire.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/987,310, filed Nov. 12, 2004, which claims the benefit under 35U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/520,263,filed Nov. 14, 2003, titled SOFT ARMOR. The entire contents of theabove-noted provisional patent application are hereby incorporated byreference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Certain disclosed embodiments relate generally to armor for protectionof personnel and/or vehicles, buildings, etc.

2. Description of the Related Art

Currently known armor includes “hard” and “soft” armor. Hard armor canbe made very strong, but may be too rigid for some applications. Softarmor has some advantages, but is generally weaker than hard armor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, there is provided soft armor. The softarmor comprises an armor structure having a threat side and an innerside inward of the threat side. The armor structure is formed from softarmor material, and the armor structure is substantially imperforable byrifle fire.

According to another embodiment, there is provided soft armor. The softarmor comprises an armor structure having a threat side and an innerside inward of the threat side. The armor structure is formed from softarmor material, and the armor structure is sufficiently strong to defeatrifle fire.

According to another embodiment, there is provided soft armor. The softarmor comprises an armor structure having a threat side and an innerside inward of the threat side. The armor structure is formed from softarmor material, and the armor structure provides at least NIJ type IIIballistic protection.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a soft armor garment.The soft armor garment comprises a torso portion formed from soft armormaterial and configured to wrap around a torso of a wearer. The torsoportion provides at least NIJ type III ballistic protection to at leasta portion of the torso against threats from any side of the torso.

According to another embodiment, there is provided a soft armor garment.The soft armor garment comprises a torso portion formed from soft armormaterial and configured to wrap around a torso of a wearer. The torsoportion provides at least NIJ type III ballistic protection to the torsoagainst threats within a 360-degree threat envelope.

Certain objects and advantages of the invention are described herein. Ofcourse, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such objects oradvantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodimentof the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art willrecognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a mannerthat achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages astaught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantagesas may be taught or suggested herein.

All of the embodiments summarized above are intended to be within thescope of the invention herein disclosed. However, despite the foregoingdiscussion of certain embodiments, only the appended claims (and not thepresent summary) are intended to define the invention. The summarizedembodiments, and other embodiments of the present invention, will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments having reference to theattached figures, the invention not being limited to any particularembodiment(s) disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of one embodiment of an armorstructure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of an armorstructure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of an armorstructure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of an armorstructure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of an armorstructure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of an armorstructure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of an armored vest and a threat envelopedefeated by the armored vest.

FIG. 8 is a front view of another embodiment of an armored vest.

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the armored vest of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front view of another embodiment of an armored vest.

FIG. 11 is a schematic exploded sectional view of a technique usable forconstructing various armor structures disclosed herein.

FIG. 12 is an elevation view of a stitch pattern usable for constructingvarious armor structures disclosed herein.

FIG. 13 is an elevation view of another stitch pattern usable forconstructing various armor structures disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a soft armor structure 100 whichgenerally comprises a layered construction of a first section 110,second section 120 and third section 130. The armor structure 100 isconfigured to be worn, mounted or otherwise employed such that the firstsection 110 is located closest to a threat (e.g., incoming gunfire) andthe third section 130 is located closest to the wearer, vehicle,aircraft, building, etc. to be protected by the armor structure 100.Accordingly, the armor structure 100 includes a threat side 140 and aninner side 150.

In some embodiments, each of the first, second and third sections 110,120, 130 is formed from soft armor material. In certain suchembodiments, the first section 110 comprises ZYLON® (used herein torefer to PBO (poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole)) material or fabricformed therefrom), the second section 120 comprises KEVLAR® (used hereinto refer to para-aramid material or fabric formed therefrom), and thethird section 130 comprises KEVLAR. In still other such embodiments, anyone or more of the first, second and third sections 110, 120, 130 maycomprise woven ZYLON or woven KEVLAR, or multiple layers of woven ZYLONor woven KEVLAR.

In one such embodiment, the first section 110 comprises 10 layers ofZYLON-530 (i.e., ZYLON similar to style no. 530 available from HexcelSchwebel of Anderson, S.C.), the second section 120 comprises 6 layersof KEVLAR-704 (i.e., KEVLAR similar to style no. 704 available fromHexcel Schwebel), and the third section 130 comprises 8 layers ofKEVLAR-726 (i.e., KEVLAR similar to style no. 726 available from HexcelSchwebel). (In addition, if desired, the layers of the third section 130may be laminated to improve resistance to backface deformation.) Thisembodiment of the armor structure 100 achieves type IIIa protection asestablished in the National Institute of Justice (“NIJ”) standard no.0101.04 (June 2001). In addition, this embodiment of the armor structure100 protects against the following “supplemental” threats under testcircumstances similar to those set forth in NIJ standard no. 0101.04:(1) a 60 grain, 9 mm RBCD armor-piercing bullet at 2105 feet per second(FPS); (2) a 52 grain, 9 mm MagSafe Agent Load bullet at 2120 FPS; (3) a77 grain, .40 caliber MagSafe bullet at 1920 FPS; and (4) a 92 grain,.45 caliber MagSafe Agent Load bullet at 2020 FPS.

In further type IIIa-compliant embodiments of the armor structure 100,the first section 110 comprises 10 or more (e.g., 11, 12, 15, 20, 25 ormore) layers of ZYLON-530, the second section 120 comprises 6 or more(e.g., 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20 or more) layers of KEVLAR-704, and the thirdsection 130 comprises 8 or more (e.g., 9, 10, 12, 15, 20 or more) layersof KEVLAR-726. (In certain of these embodiments, one or more layers ofsoft armor material other than ZYLON-530, KEVLAR-704 and KEVLAR-726 maybe employed in the first, second or third layers 110, 120, 130,respectively, in addition to the layers specified above.) All of theseembodiments also protect against the “supplemental” threats enumeratedabove.

In still further type IIIa-compliant embodiments of the armor structure100, an “overbuilt” section (i.e., more than 10 (e.g., 11, 12, 15, 20,25 or more) layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the first section 110, morethan 6 (e.g., 7, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20 or more) layers of KEVLAR-704employed in the second section 120, or more than 8 (e.g., 9, 10, 12, 15,20 or more) layers of KEVLAR-726 employed in the third section 130) isemployed in one or two of the sections 110, 120, 130, and an“underbuilt” section (i.e., fewer than 10 layers of ZYLON-530 employedin the first section 110, fewer than 6 layers of KEVLAR-704 employed inthe second section 120, or fewer than 8 layers or KEVLAR-726) isemployed in the balance of the sections 110, 120, 130. In other typeIIIa-compliant embodiments of the armor structure 100, such an“overbuilt” section is employed as one or two of the sections 110, 120,130, and the balance of the sections 110, 120, 130 are omitted.

FIG. 2 depicts another embodiment of a soft armor structure 200 whichgenerally comprises a layered construction of a first section 210 and asecond section 220. The armor structure 200 is configured to be worn,mounted or otherwise employed such that the first section 210 is locatedclosest to a threat (e.g., incoming gunfire) and the second section 220is located closest to the wearer, vehicle, aircraft, building, etc. tobe protected by the armor structure 200. Accordingly, the armorstructure 200 includes a threat side 240 and an inner side 250.

In some embodiments, both of the first and second sections 210, 220, areformed from soft armor material. In certain such embodiments, the firstsection 210 comprises ZYLON and the second section 220 comprises KEVLAR.In still other such embodiments, one or both of the first and secondsections 210, 220 may comprise woven ZYLON or woven KEVLAR, or multiplelayers of woven ZYLON or woven KEVLAR.

In one such embodiment, the first section 210 comprises 22 layers ofZYLON-530 and the second section 220 comprises 3 layers of KEVLAR-726.(In addition, if desired, the layers of the second section 220 may belaminated to improve resistance to backface deformation.) Thisembodiment of the armor structure 200 achieves NIJ type IIIa protection.In addition, this embodiment of the armor structure 200 protects againstthe following “supplemental” threats under test circumstances similar tothose set forth in NIJ standard no. 0101.04: (1) a 60 grain, 9 mm RBCDarmor-piercing bullet at 2600 feet per second (FPS); (2) a 52 grain, 9mm MagSafe Agent Load bullet at 2600 FPS; (3) a 77 grain, .40 caliberMagSafe bullet at 2400 FPS; and (4) a 92 grain, .45 caliber MagSafeAgent Load bullet at 2500 FPS.

In further type lIIa-compliant embodiments of the armor structure 200,the first section 210 comprises 22 or more (e.g., 23, 24, 25, 30, 35,40, 50 or more) layers of ZYLON-530, and the second section 220comprises 3 or more (e.g., 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15 or more) layers ofKEVLAR-726. (In these embodiments, one or more layers of soft armormaterial other than ZYLON-530 or KEVLAR-726 may be employed in the firstor second layers 210, 220, respectively, in addition to the layersspecified above.) All of these embodiments also protect against the“supplemental” threats enumerated above.

In still further type IIIa-compliant embodiments of the armor structure200, an “overbuilt” section (i.e., more than 22 (e.g., 23, 24, 25, 30,35, 40, 50 or more) layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the first section210, or more than 3 (e.g., 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15 or more) layers ofKEVLAR-726 employed in the second section 220) is employed in one of thesections 210, 220, and an “underbuilt” section (i.e., fewer than 22layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the first section 210, or fewer than 3layers of KEVLAR-726 employed in the second section 220) is employed inthe other of the sections 210, 220. In other type IIIa-compliantembodiments of the armor structure 200, such an “overbuilt” section isemployed as one of the sections 210, 220, and the other of the sections210, 220 is omitted.

FIG. 3 depicts another embodiment of a soft armor structure 300 whichgenerally comprises a first armor substructure comprising any of theembodiments disclosed herein of the armor structure 100, positionedadjacent a second armor substructure comprising any of the embodimentsdisclosed herein of the armor structure 200. The armor structure 300 isconfigured to be worn, mounted or otherwise employed such that the firstsection 110 of the armor structure 100 is located closest to a threat(e.g., incoming gunfire) and the second section 220 of the armorstructure 200 is located closest to the wearer, vehicle, aircraft,building, etc. to be protected by the armor structure 300. Accordingly,the armor structure 300 includes a threat side 340 and an inner side350. The various embodiments of the armor structure 300 defeat handgunfire and various “supplemental” threats as discussed above, and achieveNIJ type IIIa protection.

FIG. 4 depicts another embodiment of a soft armor structure 400 whichgenerally comprises a layered construction of a first section 410 and asecond section 420. The armor structure 400 is configured to be worn,mounted or otherwise employed such that the first section 410 is locatedclosest to a threat (e.g., incoming gunfire) and the second section 420is located closest to the wearer, vehicle, aircraft, building, etc. tobe protected by the armor structure 400. Accordingly, the armorstructure 400 includes a threat side 440 and an inner side 450.

In some embodiments, both of the first and second sections 410, 420, areformed from soft armor material. In certain such embodiments, the firstsection 410 comprises ZYLON and the second section 420 comprises KEVLAR.In still other such embodiments, one or both of the first and secondsections 410, 420 may comprise woven ZYLON or woven KEVLAR, or multiplelayers of woven ZYLON or woven KEVLAR.

In one such embodiment, the first section 410 comprises 90 layers ofZYLON-530 and the second section 420 comprises 26 layers of KEVLAR-726.(In addition, if desired, the layers of the second section 420 may belaminated to improve resistance to backface deformation.) Thisembodiment of the armor structure 400 defeats both handgun and riflefire, and achieves NIJ type III protection.

In further type III-compliant embodiments of the armor structure 400,the first section 410 comprises 90 or more (e.g., 91, 92, 95, 100, 110,125, 150 or more) layers of ZYLON-530, and the second section 220comprises 26 or more (e.g., 27, 28, 30, 35, 40, 50 or more) layers ofKEVLAR-726. (In these embodiments, one or more layers of soft armormaterial other than ZYLON-530 or KEVLAR-726 may be employed in the firstor second layers 410, 420, respectively, in addition to the layersspecified above.)

In still further type III-compliant embodiments of the armor structure400, an “overbuilt” section (i.e., more than 90 (e.g., 91, 92, 95, 100,110, 125, 150 or more) layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the first section410, or more than 26 (e.g., 27, 28, 30, 35, 40, 50 or more) layers ofKEVLAR-726 employed in the second section 420) is employed in one of thesections 410, 420, and an “underbuilt” section (i.e., fewer than 90layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the first section 410, or fewer than 26layers of KEVLAR-726 employed in the second section 420) is employed inthe other of the sections 410, 420. In other type III-compliantembodiments of the armor structure 400, such an “overbuilt” section isemployed as one of the sections 410, 420, and the other of the sections410, 420 is omitted.

FIG. 5 depicts another embodiment of a soft armor structure 500 whichgenerally comprises a single section 510 formed from soft armor materialand having a threat side 540 and an inner side 550. The armor structure500 is configured to be worn, mounted or otherwise employed to protect ahuman wearer, vehicle, aircraft, building, etc.

In some embodiments, the armor structure 500 is formed from ZYLON; incertain such embodiments, the armor structure 500 may be formed fromwoven ZYLON, or multiple layers of woven ZYLON. In still another suchembodiment, armor structure 500 comprises 258 layers of ZYLON-530. Thisembodiment of the armor structure 500 defeats both handgun and riflefire, and achieves NIJ type III protection.

In further type III-compliant embodiments of the armor structure 500,the structure 500 comprises 258 or more (e.g., 259, 260, 265, 275, 300,350, 400 or more) layers of ZYLON-530. (In these embodiments, one ormore layers of soft armor material other than ZYLON-530 may be employedin addition to the layers specified above.)

FIG. 6 depicts another embodiment of a soft armor structure 600 whichgenerally comprises a layered construction of a first section 610 and asecond section 620. The armor structure 600 is configured to be worn,mounted or otherwise employed such that the first section 610 is locatedclosest to a threat (e.g., incoming gunfire) and the second section 620is located closest to the wearer, vehicle, aircraft, building, etc. tobe protected by the armor structure 600. Accordingly, the armorstructure 600 includes a threat side 640 and an inner side 650.

In some embodiments, both of the first and second sections 610, 620, areformed from soft armor material. In certain such embodiments, the firstsection 610 comprises ZYLON and the second section 620 comprisesSPECTRASHIELD PLUS® (used herein to refer to ultra-high molecular weightpolyethylene or fabric formed therefrom). In still other suchembodiments, one or both of the first and second sections 610, 620 maycomprise woven ZYLON or woven SPECTRASHIELD PLUS, or multiple layers ofwoven ZYLON or woven SPECTRASHIELD PLUS.

In one such embodiment, the first section 610 comprises 100 layers ofZYLON-530 and the second section 620 comprises 135 layers ofSPECTRASHIELD PLUS-902 (i.e., SPECTRASHIELD PLUS similar to style no.902 available from Hexcel Schwebel of Anderson, S.C., or from HoneywellCorp. of Morristown, N.J.). This embodiment of the armor structure 600defeats both handgun and rifle fire, and achieves NIJ type IIIprotection.

In further type III-compliant embodiments of the armor structure 600,the first section 610 comprises 100 or more (e.g., 101, 102, 105, 110,125, 150, 200 or more) layers of ZYLON-530, and the second section 220comprises 135 or more (e.g., 136, 137, 140, 150, 175, 200 or more)layers of SPECTRASHIELD PLUS-902. (In these embodiments, one or morelayers of soft armor material other than ZYLON-530 or SPECTRASHIELDPLUS-902 may be employed in the first or second layers 610, 620,respectively, in addition to the layers specified above.)

In still further type III-compliant embodiments of the armor structure600, an “overbuilt” section (i.e., more than 100 (e.g., 101, 102, 105,110, 125, 150, 200 or more) layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the firstsection 610, or more than 135 (e.g., 136, 137, 140, 150, 175, 200 ormore) layers of SPECTRASHIELD PLUS-902 employed in the second section620) is employed in one of the sections 610, 620, and an “underbuilt”section (i.e., fewer than 100 layers of ZYLON-530 employed in the firstsection 610, or fewer than 135 layers of KEVLAR-726 employed in thesecond section 620) is employed in the other of the sections 610, 620.In other type III-compliant embodiments of the armor structure 600, suchan “overbuilt” section is employed as one of the sections 610, 620, andthe other of the sections 610, 620 is omitted.

Any of the embodiments of the soft armor structures 100, 200, 300, 400,500, 600 disclosed herein may be employed to construct any of a varietyof armored equipment. For example, and of the disclosed armor structuresmay be employed to construct soft body armor, such as a bulletproofvest. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 7, such a vest 705 is entirelyconstructed from one or a combination of the armor structures disclosedherein, providing ballistic protection of a given type (e.g., type IIIa,type III, type 2.7A, rifle-fire-defeating) that “wraps” completelyaround a torso T of a wearer W. In other words, such a vest provides360-degree protection for the torso T (at the ballistic protection levelprovided by the armor structure 100/200/300/400/500/600 chosen toconstruct the vest 705), by defeating threats 715 approaching thestanding/kneeling/sitting wearer W from any angle as depicted in FIG. 7.(For example, “360-degree” level III protection may be facilitated byconstructing the vest 705 from any suitable embodiment of the armorstructures 300/400/500/600 disclosed above.) The vest 705 may also beconfigured to cover the tops of the wearer's shoulders, to protect thetorso T from threats from above.

FIGS. 8-9 depict front and rear views, respectively, of anotherembodiment of a vest 805 that may be constructed with any one orcombination of the armor structures 100/200/300/400/500/600 disclosedherein. (The dimensions and specifications listed on FIGS. 8-9 aremerely exemplary, and may be varied or omitted in other embodiments ofthe vest 805.) The vest 805 generally comprises a torso cover 807 andone or more trauma plates 809. The torso cover may be constructed fromany of the armor structures disclosed herein, or any other suitablematerial, and the trauma plate(s) 809 may likewise be constructed fromany of the herein-disclosed armor structures. The torso cover 807extends behind or in front of the trauma plate(s) 809 so that enhancedprotection is provided at the trauma plate(s). As seen in FIG. 9, therear of the vest 805 may feature a spinal trauma plate to provide addedprotection at the wearer's spinal region. The spinal trauma plate may beformed from any of the armor structures disclosed herein, or may beformed from an outer section of 5 or more layers of ZYLON-530, a middlesection of 6 or more layers of KEVLAR-726, and an inner section of 4 ormore layers of KEVLAR-724 (i.e., KEVLAR similar to style no. 704available from Hexcel Schwebel).

FIG. 10 depicts a front view of another embodiment of the vest 805,which may be generally similar to the embodiment of the vest 805 shownin FIGS. 8-9, except as indicated in FIG. 10. (As with FIGS. 8-9, thedimensions and specifications listed on FIG. 10 are merely exemplary,and may be varied or omitted in other embodiments of the vest 805.)

Alternatively, any of the disclosed armor structures may be employed toconstruct soft body armor panels which may be sewn into, and/or enclosedin pockets formed in, a vest constructed from other suitable materialsor fabrics.

Any of the disclosed armor structures 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 mayalso be employed to form armor panels for use in vehicles, either on oragainst the vehicle “skin” or in critical locations like seats,cockpits, fuel tanks, hydraulic lines, ammunition stores, etc.Similarly, any of the disclosed armor structures 100, 200, 300, 400,500, 600 may be employed to construct helmets or armor panels forbuildings.

In constructing the armor structures and/or armored articles disclosedherein, each of the layers of soft armor material may be laser-cut intothe desired perimeter shape. The layers may be cut individually or ingroups of 2 or more. Laser cutting has proven advantageous in that itprevents fraying of woven soft armor materials as the laser heat tendsto “heat-seal” the edges of the cut material. In some embodiments, aninfrared laser or a carbon-dioxide laser may be employed.

FIG. 11 depicts a construction technique that may be employed in joiningtogether a number (e.g., 5, 10 or more) of layers 902 of soft armormaterial, to form a section or partial section of any of the armorstructures 100/200/300/400/500/600 disclosed herein, or to form acomplete armor structure. The technique involves applying an adhesivetape 904, such as a polymer tape, over some or all of the perimeteredges of the “sandwich” of layers 902. (In one embodiment, apolyethylene tape is employed.) After the tape 904 is applied, stitching906 is passed through the tape 904 and layers 902, using any suitablestitching process. The technique illustrated in FIG. 11 may be employedin addition to the laser-cutting technique disclosed above.

FIG. 12 depicts a stitch pattern that may be employed in stitchingtogether a number of sections, layers, etc. to form any of the armorstructures disclosed herein, or to form an armor panel or other armoredarticle. The pattern includes a number (8 are depicted; alternatively, asmaller or larger number may be employed) of radial stitch lines 1002that pass through the approximate center C of a panel/article 1000. Inone embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the radial stitch lines 1002 areapproximately equally angularly spaced about the center C. A number ofoptional perimeter stitch lines 1004 may also be employed near the edgesof the panel/article 1000. (Although a square panel/article 1000 isdepicted in FIG. 12, the depicted stitch pattern may be used inconstructing panels/articles having any of a variety of perimetershapes.)

FIG. 13 depicts another stitch pattern that may be employed in stitchingtogether a number of sections, layers, etc. to form any of the armorstructures disclosed herein, or to form an armor panel or other armoredarticle. Like the pattern shown in FIG. 12, the “spider-web” pattern ofFIG. 13 includes a number of radial stitch lines 1002 that pass throughthe approximate center C of the panel/article 1000. A number ofgenerally concentric circular stitch lines 1006 are also made to createthe spider-web form shown in FIG. 13.

Either of the stitch patterns shown in FIG. 12 or 13, or any othersuitable stitch pattern, may be employed with the laser cuttingprocedure disclosed above, and/or the construction technique shown inFIG. 11, in constructing any of the armor structures or armored articlesdisclosed herein. In addition, any of the armor structures, panels,sections etc. may be encased in an appropriate structural orwaterproofing casing during or after fabrication.

Specifications for various materials discussed above are as set forth inthe following tables.

ZYLON-530: SPECIFICATIONS Yarn Type Warp Yarn Zylon AS, 500 denier FillYarn Zylon AS, 500 denier Fabric Weight 4.00 oz/yd² 136 g/m² Weave StylePlain Nominal Construction Warp Count 30 (yarns/inch) Fill Count 30Fabric Thickness 8.0 mils 0.20 mm Breaking Strength 1080 lbf/in 1020lbf/in

KEVLAR-704: SPECIFICATIONS Yarn Type Warp Yarn Keviar 129, 840 denierFill Yarn Keviar 129, 840 denier Fabric Weight 7.0 oz/yd² 237 g/m² WeaveStyle Plain Nominal Construction Warp Count 31 (yarns/inch) Fill Count31 Fabric Thickness 12.0 mils 0.3 mm Breaking Strength 900 lbf/in 950lbf/in

KEVLAR-724: SPECIFICATIONS Yarn Type Warp Yarn Kevlar 129, 1000 denierFill Yarn Kevlar 129, 1000 denier Fabric Weight 6.5 oz/yd² 220 g/m²Weave Style Plain Nominal Construction Warp Count 24 (yarns/inch) FillCount 24 Fabric Thickness 11.0 mils 0.28 mm Breaking Strength 763 lbf/in776 lbf/in

KEVLAR-726: SPECIFICATIONS Yarn Type Warp Yarn Kevlar 129, 840 denierFill Yarn Kevlar 129, 840 denier Fabric Weight 6.0 oz/yd² 203 g/m² WeaveStyle Plain Nominal Construction Warp Count 26 (yarns/inch) Fill Count26 Fabric Thickness 10.0 mils 0.25 mm Breaking Strength 760 lbf/in 770lbf/in

SPECTRASHIELD PLUS-902: SPECIFICATIONS Yarn Type Warp Yarn Spectra 900,1200 denier Fill Yarn Spectra 900, 1200 denier Fabric Weight 5.5 oz/yd²187 g/m² Weave Style Plain Nominal Construction Warp Count 17(yarns/inch) Fill Count 17 Fabric Thickness 18.0 mils 0.46 mm BreakingStrength 900 lbf/in 850 lbf/in

Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certainpreferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond thespecifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodimentsand/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalentsthereof. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present inventionherein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosedembodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fairreading of the claims that follow.

1. Soft armor comprising: an armor structure having a threat side and aninner side inward of said threat side; said armor structure being formedfrom soft armor material; said armor structure being substantiallyimperforable by rifle fire.
 2. The soft armor of claim 1, wherein thesoft armor material comprises a number of ballistic material layers,said ballistic material layers having a combined nominal thickness of25.8 mm-82.1 mm.
 3. The soft armor of claim 1, wherein the soft armormaterial comprises a number of ballistic material layers, said ballisticmaterial layers have a combined nominal weight of 542-1142.5 ounces persquare yard.
 4. The soft armor of claim 1, wherein said armor structurecomprises at least 258 layers of PBO fabric.
 5. The soft armor of claim1, wherein said armor structure comprises a first section of at least100 layers of PBO fabric, adjacent to a second section of at least 135layers of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fabric.
 6. The softarmor of claim 1, wherein said armor structure comprises a first sectionof at least 90 layers of PBO fabric, adjacent to a second section of atleast 26 layers of para-aramid fabric.
 7. An armor panel formed from thesoft armor of claim
 1. 8. A garment comprising at least one of the armorpanel of claim
 7. 9. A vest comprising at least one of the armor panelof claim
 7. 10. A helmet comprising the soft armor of claim
 1. 11. Softarmor comprising: an armor structure having a threat side and an innerside inward of said threat side; said armor structure being formed fromsoft armor material; said armor structure providing at least NIJ typeIII ballistic protection.
 12. The soft armor of claim 11, wherein thesoft armor material comprises a number of fabric layers, said fabriclayers having a combined nominal thickness of 25.8 mm-82.1 mm and acombined nominal weight of 542-1142.5 ounces per square yard.
 13. Thesoft armor of claim 11, wherein said armor structure comprises at least258 layers of PBO fabric.
 14. The soft armor of claim 11, wherein saidarmor structure comprises a first section of at least 100 layers of PBOfabric, adjacent to a second section of at least 135 layers ofultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fabric.
 15. The soft armor ofclaim 11, wherein said armor structure comprises a first section of atleast 90 layers of PBO fabric, adjacent to a second section of at least26 layers of para-aramid fabric.
 16. An armor panel formed from the softarmor of claim
 11. 17. A garment comprising at least one of the armorpanel of claim
 16. 18. The garment of claim 17, comprising a torsoportion formed from the soft armor material and configured to wraparound a torso of a wearer, said torso portion providing at least NIJtype III ballistic protection against threats within a 360-degree threatenvelope.
 19. A helmet comprising the soft armor of claim
 11. 20. Softarmor comprising: an armor structure having a threat side and an innerside inward of said threat side; said armor structure being formed fromsoft armor material; said armor structure being substantiallyimperforable by armor-piercing handgun fire; wherein said armorstructure comprises: a first section of at least 10 layers of PBOfabric, overlying a second section of at least 6 layers of para-aramidfabric, overlying a third section of at least 8 layers of para-aramidfabric.